On a visit to the Peruvian Amazon and the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve with Delfin Amazon Cruises, waking up brings the day’s most challenging decision. Wrapped in Peruvian pima cotton linens and just feet from a cool water whirlpool on your suite’s private terrace, there’s no need to ever leave. However, when the sights and sounds of Peru’s most precious biodiversity wait outside the window, they can be difficult to ignore.

It’s one of many pressing choices guests will encounter onboard the 12-passenger Delfin I (or its larger counterpart, the Delfin II, accommodating up to 30 passengers.) On the intimate Delfin I vessel, an unparalleled luxury river cruise experience waits in either of two Deluxe Suites, where floor-to-ceiling windows welcome the warmth of the Peruvian sun. Undoubtedly, though, the highlight of the Delfin I Deluxe Suite is its private terrace, where a whirlpool with endless views of the Amazon River rivals the wonder of any infinity pool.

Despite a temptation to stay in the Deluxe Suite’s luxury for the duration of the cruise, venturing beyond the room pays its dividends. First, Delfin’s authentic Peruvian cuisine proves worthy to be served in the country’s finest restaurants. The dishes, full of ingredients sourced from local communities along the Peruvian Amazon and prepared by Chef Isaac Saavedra, spare no effort to bring the flavors of the jungle into the vessel’s lavish dining room. After a few days of exotic fruits and local seafood served on plates that elevate dining to an art form, any meal on dry land seems bland in comparison.

Further beyond the comforts of the Deluxe Suite, Peru’s Amazon waits in untamed glory. Here, even the most seasoned cruise veterans are certain to find a new sense of wonder during an encounter with the Amazon’s pink river dolphins. These uncommon, amiable creatures accompany travelers as they paddleboard and swim in the river, ensuring the day’s adventures won’t soon be forgotten.

Other highlights in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve include taking a plunge into the wilderness with daytime and nighttime excursions across the Amazon, feeling your heart race on a canopy walk 85 feet above the ground, and meeting baby manatees during a visit to the Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals.

One of Delfin Amazon Cruises’ most intriguing offerings is the promise of a new world during a return voyage in another season. Delfin’s high water season runs from November to May, while low water season spans between June and October. Aside from the familiar embrace of the ship’s amenities and distinct Peruvian warmth, returning guests will find little recognizable during a return visit in a different part of the year. New trails, creeks and rivers are accessible for exploration, and different local communities bring unique culture and craftsmanship to visitors during each season.

Encounters with native artists are a signature experience during any Delfin cruise, but passengers don’t have to wait until they venture onto land to find a sample of local Peruvian culture. Delfin I’s suites and common spaces are adorned with artwork and handicrafts produced by natives of villages within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. These intricate works bring new color and culture to the ship, but their presence is more than aesthetic in nature. The commission of local artwork by Delfin Amazon Cruises for its vessels has infused new life into local economies, supporting women who subsist as artisans and increasing funding to community schools.

Delfin’s commitment to local communities runs deep. Delfin Amazon Cruises’ founder and CEO Aldo Macchiavello also created the Kuyapa Foundation, Delfin’s partner nonprofit that offers medical, educational and infrastructural support to underserved regions and groups along the Peruvian Amazon.

Continuing the company’s investment in its immediate surroundings, the environmental issues commonly associated with cruising aren’t a concern during travels with Delfin. Both the Delfin I and Delfin II ships are equipped with top of the line infrastructure for water treatment, ensuring no wastewater is released into the river. The vessels operate at nearly carbon neutral levels, ensuring guests will find themselves immersed in the same green wilderness and blue waters upon their next visit.

Voyages depart from Nauta via Iquitos and are available for five days and four nights or four days and three nights on both Delfin I and Delfin II. Between onboard amenities, the endless rainforest ready to be explored and abundant wildlife within arm’s reach, five days is hardly enough time for all Delfin offers. Fortunately, a year-round schedule that changes with the seasons invites guests back again to relish familiar luxuries and discover a new world.

For more information on Delfin Amazon Cruises, visit www.delfinamazoncruises.com.

In The Blog
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